[mou] MSP Snowy Owl

[John Kaplan]

A male snowy put on a spectacular show for a few of us on Cargo Road 
just north of the glycol station and across from the 4 ratio antenna 
tower.  He stayed near or on the perimeter fence west of the road.  A 
hawk, that no one there identified, was on the fence nearby.  Every few 
minutes, the owl would chase the hawk away with the two going through 
beautiful maneuvers.  Then the owl would return to the fence with the 
hawk following.  They landed fairly close together ready to repeat the 
chase.  It looked like a game of tag.

Eventually the hawk few away to the west.  That time the hawk landed on 
top of the north-most light post, where Cargo Road makes a right turn.

A passing aircraft may have spooked the owl.  He flew to the ground near 
where the show began.  He stayed near the intersection of the perimeter 
fence and the glycol station's fence.

Not seeming to like the company of a photographer who approached him, 
the owl few south.  He appeared to have landed in a depression parallel 
to the runway and out of our sight.  I expect to see some good photos on 
the web.  The photographer, with his rather long lens, must have gotten 
as close as 20' from the owl.

During the show, two police cars stopped.  One of the officers had 
binoculars; I lent mine to the other.  They were as excited as the rest 
of us.


John